2024 Beijing Shihua Cave, outside temperature 36°C, inside temperature 20°C

Beijing Shihua Cave National Geopark is located in Nancheying Village, Hebei Town, Fangshan District, Beijing. It is one of the four major karst caves in China. Here is a travel guide for Beijing Shihua Cave: - Opening hours: 09:00-16:30. - Ticket prices: Full price ticket 70 RMB, half price ticket 35 RMB. - The following groups can purchase half-price tickets: - Primary, middle, and high school students (excluding adult education, master's, postgraduate, online and National Open University), can purchase half-price tickets with the original student ID. - Minors aged 6 (excluding 6 years old) to 18 (including 18 years old) and children over 1.2 meters in height can purchase student tickets with the original ID card, student ID or passport. - Seniors aged 60 and above (including 60 years old) can purchase half-price tickets with the original ID card. - Persons holding the Beijing Social Security Benefit Certificate can purchase half-price tickets with the original ID card. - The following groups can visit for free: - Persons holding a retirement certificate, disability certificate, Beijing 65-year-old card (accompanied by a family member), children under 1.2 meters, and tour guides accompanying travel agency groups with a tour guide certificate and travel agency ticket purchase agreement (itinerary) can visit for free, with on-site reservation at the window with ID and relevant certificates. - Transportation: - Take Fangshan Line subway to Liangxiang Nanguan Station south side, then take bus Fangshan 43 to Shihua Cave, walk to the cave. - Take Fangshan Line subway to Liangxiang Nanguan Station west side, then take bus 833 to Shihua Cave Entrance Station, walk about half an hour to the scenic area, or take a taxi to the scenic area, about 20 RMB. - Tour route: Shihua Cave has seven levels, currently open to tourists from the first to the fourth level, with 16 halls and over 100 scenic spots. The walking route is about 2.5 kilometers, generally taking 2 hours to visit, longer for photography enthusiasts. The scenic area offers guide services to explain the formations and legends of the cave. The guide fee is 100 RMB per tour for groups of less than 5 people, with an additional 10 RMB for each extra person. - First level: The tour starts from the first level, featuring landscapes like 'Lion Welcoming Guests', 'Carp Stream', and 'Penglai Fairyland' composed of stalagmite groups. Notably, there are ten Buddha statues near the entrance. Deep inside the cave, the 'Jade Pool Stone Lotus' features rare moonmilk formations resembling white lotus flowers, worth special attention. - Second level: The second level has a 1352-meter tour route, the longest and largest of the four levels, with spacious and magnificent landscapes. - Third level: The third level features the signature 'Shihua Cave' scenery, with diverse and numerous stone flowers, making it one of the most spectacular karst caves in China. - Fourth level: The fourth level has delicate landscapes, notably the 'Jade Hairpin and Treasure Vase', where a thin stone column supports a large stalagmite, resembling an ancient woman's hairpin. Shihua Cave maintains a constant temperature of around 13°C year-round, making it a great place for a summer weekend getaway in the suburbs of Beijing. Visitors are advised to wear warm clothing. The cave floor is slippery, so non-slip shoes are recommended.